I will try to be brief but let me explain my situation:
I need a pair of monitoring speakers, but I am really tight on my budget. What/how I want to use them is first of all in a small 18 Square meters room, and mainly for monitoring vocal performance. This is not for any kind of live public performance, but for private recording and performance as I prefer working my vocals with monitor speaker instead if headphones. I already own a pair of old 1029A Genelec speakers: https://www.genelec.com/previous-models/1029a that I really like and enjoy working with. Unfortunately they are in my hometown. I can't afford to buy something like those but I hope to find the best possible option that a budget of 300 to 400 euros can get. I had ideas like Jbl - LSR305/230 or KRK Rokit 6, but those are apparently old and not sold just like my old genelecs and newer models have replaced them.

It would be very kind if you guys gave me some advice and help me choose!

Edit: The speakers will be connected to a Steinberg UR44 and need to be amplified.

 

M-Audio BX8 D3 € 139,-

"first of all in a small 18 Square meters room, and mainly for monitoring vocal performance"
I would not go under 8inch membranes!

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 22, 2022

so the ones you were using were superseded to the 8030a's. They are 650 new ea, listing here is for used 345 ea to give an idea of used prices: https://www.pssl.com/products/genelec-8030a-2-way-powered-studio-monitor?variant=40882473763010

 

Hello @Vampgirl, you will definitely be happy with these boxes. One of the best-selling monitors. Read a few reviews.

Yamaha HS 7 (2x 195 € = 390 €)

www.thomann.de/de/yamaha_hs_7.htm
https://de.yamaha.com/de/products/proaudio/speakers/hs_series/index.html

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HS7--yamaha-hs7-6.5-inch-powered-studio-monitor-black/reviews
www.leadsrating.com/musical-instruments/yamaha-hs7-vs-hs8/

 

Last edited: Feb 22, 2022

I'm shocked you can't grab an old pair of Rokits online for next to nothing even with shipping, though I'd get 8s.

 

RCF Ayra Pro6 are within your budget.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 22, 2022

I have to wonder... why not just get your Genelecs??? Shipping them to where you are surely wouldn't be that much.

 

I love my 'budget' JBL 305 MK II's! Affordable for you. Clean for vocals, for sure.

 

Try the Presonus Eris 3.5. I have a pair and they are great for mixing. The speakers run about $100 U.S. dollars.

 

These are what I would recommend. Can't go wrong for that price!

 

Sometimes cheaper is not always better. I got JBL 104 dirt cheap (~70 euro) and regretted it. For me they have too much harmonic distortion at high volume (starts around 75%) or lack of clarity at low volume. And suck for headphones as they attenuate the signal (the input volume becomes weaker, and i get distortions if i raise volume knob trying to amplify the headphones). So I'd be cautious with the PreSonus.

A critical review of PreSonus and Mackie speakers:

According to the video, the PreSonus may not be good for vocals as it scoops the mids. Mackie seems better in that comparison.

 

Last edited: Feb 22, 2022

I knew you would do this to me! Not 2 of you suggested the same speakers! Now I am even more confused!
As I said I can not afford to get myself an expensive pair like my Genelecs but at the same time I don't want to sacrifice the quality of what I get for few euros. If a hundred euros more will get me a considerable differences then I'm OK with having more pasta for a month
The Yamaha HS 7 looks nice and I am also tempted by Rokits. But KRK Rokits have so may different models with different generations G3 G4 etc that I'm totally confused. I live in France and I see that there are also many second hand offers. I really don't mind getting one of those!
If the price was not an issue would you go for HS7 or KRK? which KRK would you suggest? Anything better or equal to these two in the same price range?

The Presonus Eris 3.5. looks like a miracle if you you only look at the price!! But how much loss of quality can there be compared to KRK or HS7! ?

 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/kali_audio_lp_6_2nd_wave.htm

Kali Audio LP-6 are a good option if you are on a tight budget

 

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/yamaha-hs7-review-studio-monitor.19761/

"Best not mix on this speaker as is or you will wind up with uneven response."

 

Personally I'd choose HS7's without a doubt. I still keep my old Yamaha HS80's around as a secondary pair, as they're a v valuable tool.

The whole Yamaha HS range is pretty aggressive-sounding, they they make you work hard for a good mix. Once you learn them, they translate well.

In roughly the same price range, you might wanna check out the Kali IN5/IN8. But tbh I'd go with the Yamahas.

KRK do make some decent monitors (and they made some great ones in the past) but personally I find the Rokit range to be basically useless to work on - they're little better than budget hifi speakers - insanely mushy bass, and no midrange detail.

I find Genelecs have a little bit of that hifi, flatters-everything sound too - the Rokits attempt to do a similar thing, but fail spectacularly.

This tends to happen anytime someone asks for speaker recommendations. Monitor speakers are probably the one piece of studio gear that are most affected by personal taste and preference, ie: what I may be looking for in speakers could be completely different to you, based on our taste, experience, the genres we work in, etc, etc.

For example, I tend to like speakers that are either pretty neutral (eg Neumann, Amphion, ATC) or a bit aggressive (Yamaha, Barefoot). Ideally I prefer more forward/exciting/aggressive speakers when tracking, and more neutral ones for mixing.

I personally don't like working on most Focal monitors (really can't stand SM9's) for much the same reason that I don't like Rokits, and find most Genelecs quite difficult to work on - they either sound 'too good'/flattering (in the case of the Focal SM9s and a lot of Genelecs) or too scooped/hifi (Rokits). I prefer speakers that make me really work to get a mix happening, because for me, that process always yields a better end result.

But plenty of people have the exact opposite preferences, and get equally good results - it's just down to what works for you.

We can make recommendations based on our experiences and preferences, but not everyone will have heard all the same speakers, and things like personal bias will happen too (eg most people will tend to believe that the speakers they've spent money on are better than others they decided not to buy).

Experience plays quite a big role too - you will often see less experienced folks be impressed my speakers that go loud, or ones that are super bright and/or mid scooped. Because our brains are programmed to assume louder, brighter sounds are 'better'.

If you haven't personally worked on range of different speakers (not just heard them in a store) then it can be difficult figuring out what your personal needs / preferences are, and so you do kinda have to take a bit of a risk when buying, and go with recommendations and reviews.

 

Last edited: Feb 22, 2022

...Which is why it's not always best to listen to people who are more concerned with graphs and numbers, as opposed to actual real world results.

That site has always felt to me like it's full of more 'audiophiles' and hifi hobbyists than people actually working in audio.

Are the Yamahas anywhere close to flat? Nope

Do they get results that translate well? Yep.

They're not a good fit for everyone, but there's a reason they've become so ubiquitous in home studios.

They're also not designed for listening pleasure, they're designed to make you work until the mix is right. They'll ruthlessly expose flaws - particularly stuff like vocal sibilance. If your mix is harsh / unblanaced, it will be borderline unlistenable on Yamaha HS's (which is a good thing).

The 7's and 8's can be a tiny bit cloudy in the low mids, but at this price point, there's always compromises. They get results, in a way that not many other speakers at this price can.

 

Last edited: Feb 22, 2022

Huh? I said the same as one other guy on here. The HS7 you mention cost 6 times as much. I have a pair of them sitting right in front of me and they stay off and I use the Eris 3.5. I've been very happy with them and so have many I have recommended them to. In my opinion they are far better than the Yamahas. Reference speakers are not meant for high volume. Keep the volume low when you mix.

 

So you never crank a mix up to check if it actually still works loud?? I've never been that confident...

 

Find out what kind of models are out there for your budget and take a look at this channel to get some overview of the positives and negatives of the different speakers. Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-MKyxKdanxpOBTx8wiY1w

 

Monitors and headphones are mostly a subjective choice. Also some speakers work better with certain genres, or spaces (like your room). And while there are some models more popular than others, best advice would always be to compare and then choose. But i understand that's not always an option.

Also it would depend on how you use them. If your goal is serious mastering, you'd need pro monitors with sufficient bass. If your goal is mainly recording vocals and monitoring them, you might even get a budget set.

Roomsize in square meters, and budget in euros implies you're on EU mainland. And considering your history with the Genelecs, you might take a look at https://www.thomann.de/gb/genelec_8010_ap.htm eventhough it means you'd have to spend €200 more than you planned. In your case (mainly vocals) i don't expect the 3" woofers to be a problem.

My second choice would be those Yamaha HS7's, third the JBL 305

If you're on a budget the Presonus Eris 3.5 is a decent choice, they sound transparent, perhaps lack a bit of sub. I adviced them to several people and they're all very happy with them.

Finally, i'm not sure if i fully understand your OP, but you might consider recording with close back headphones, and then checking it with monitors, but i'm afraid i'm too far in the mansplaining territory already.